Department of Anthropology Associate Professor Gabriel Wrobel recently published two co-authored articles in Ancient Mesoamerica as part of a special issue called “The Preceramic and Early Ceramic Periods in Belize and the Central Maya Lowlands.” Ancient Mesoamerica is a flagship journal for Mesoamerican archaeology published by Cambridge Press, and both articles are open access, through an agreement between the MSU Library and Cambridge Press.
The first article is titled “Life And Death Among The Earliest Maya: A Review Of Early And Middle Preclassic Burials From The Maya World”, and is co-authored by Dr. Raúl Alejandro López Pérez (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán), and Dr. Claire Ebert (University of Pittsburgh). It discusses the earliest Maya skeletal remains and the need for coordinated research into the biology of early groups.
Read the full article at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536121000456
Abstract: “This article presents a review of the earliest Maya skeletal remains thus far found, including a list of 398 burials dating to the Early (1800–900 B.C.) and Middle Preclassic periods (900–300 B.C.) and adjacent regions. These sites are spread throughout the Maya region and the data allow basic descriptive syntheses about early mortuary behavior and aspects of health and diet. Poor preservation and differences in scoring and reporting severely limit the scope of interpretation possible at this point, but it is hoped that this review stimulates coordinated research into the biology of early groups.”
The second article is titled “Before The Maya: A Review Of Paleoindian And Archaic Human Skeletons Found In The Maya Region” and is co-authored by Dr. Julie Hoggarth (Baylor University), and PhD student Aubree Marshall. This article discusses skeletal remains found in Mexico and Belize dating to the Paleoindian and Archaic periods.
Read the full article at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536121000250
Abstract: “This article presents a review of the earliest known skeletal remains in the Maya area, which are found in submerged caves in Mexico and rock shelters in Belize and date to the Paleoindian and Archaic periods. While few in number, several of these individuals have been the focus of intensive analyses, providing an emerging picture of life in the region before the transition to agriculture and settled village communities.”